What are the pros and cons of public transport around Spain?

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SUE

They are both great. I haven't used the busses much, but the trains are quick, clean, and, if you take the AVE, it's almost like being on a first-class airplane in the old days...there's food and a catalog you can shop from while on the train and they give you a little gift when you get on. I was impressed.

The busses are a lot slower. the big advantage to busses, is that they go where the trains can't. As I recall, they were pretty much first-class. Plush and comfortable, air conditioned, and the last time I was on a bus in Spain was almost 30 years ago. It may have been the only thing truly modern back then. Don't go thinking they're like the "chicken busses" you see in the movies about Mexico and South/Central America.

The trains and their schedules can be found by searching RENFE. That'll get you right there, and if you want to get a pass, search RailEurope. All one word. That'll get you into a site that's all about Eurrail, etc.

How long will you be there? Where are you planning to go? We rented a car, and I would definitely only recommend that to travel the back roads/scenics from one city to another. NEVER try to park in the cities. Even the Train Station in Madrid was overrun with reconstruction mess.

*edited*

It looks like most of the places you are going will be accessible by train. Check into a eurrail pass, depending on your age. The archeological sites may be accessible by bus. Double-check the overnight train idea from Barcelona. The trains I looked at were only about 5 hours. We wound up returning to Madrid (from Barcelona, in fact) by airplane. It was only about $100 more pre ticket.
I'm not sure about your theory regarding luggage space. The trains don't have that much space, but if you're only carrying a backpack, it really won't matter that much. Those busses have huge cargo areas under the coach area.

Wait, no AndalucÃa? are you sure? IÂ´d suggest it if you can fit it in. Granada, Sevilla, CÃ³rdoba and MÃ¡laga are all really great cities. (Sorry, had to put in the shameless plug for my own home town and region.)

Â¡Buen viaje!

finestrat1

www.renfe.es
www.euskotren.es
www.feve.es
Look for the renfe-pass!

Maria Fontaneda

I nearly always travel by bus in spain, because my city is not well conected by train to other cities and travelling by train is often more expensive. The train stations are normally far from the city centre and bus stations are in general in a better possition. The only company in Spain for train is RENFE. For buses there are several companies that work in different itineraries, for example: Alsa, Continental Auto, Burundesa, Intercar, La Sepulvedana....

Try this link:
http://www.softdoc.es/guia_madrid/transporte/buses.html

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If you are visiting MÃ¡laga the train station and bus station are right next to each other in the city centre. You can get a train to MÃ¡laga and transfer to a bus very easily for onward travel.

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